"Upside Down"

Half Machine

Artists:

He's not. Upside down, that is. If you caught just one lyric the first time through, you caught that much. In a way, though, Alesso Natalizia-- the bedroom-pop dreamweaver who records as Banjo or Freakout-- is, if not head over heels, then at least bringing us full circle. London-based Natalizia honed his skills covering highly bloggble artists from Burial to High Places in his own intimate, atmospheric style. Instead of singing for his supper in smoky bars before unappreciative crowds, like the acoustic covermen of an era that feels further away than it actually is, he's sitting at a computer, forced to gauge reaction by clicks and blog comments rather than in-person audience interaction. Only later did he form a proper band for live shows.

All of which might seem ass-backwards, but it's really just contemporary reality. "Upside Down" is essentially "42", a highlight of Banjo or Freakout's Upside Down EP last year, now re-recorded for a new 12". Natalizia's rough-hewn strums and wounded vocals still evoke something between Elliott Smith's early four-track material and the Shocking Pinks' melodically similar "Emily". But this time he dives a little bit deeper into the original's watery textures, bringing shaky piano plinks and low rumbling sounds up higher in the mix. As before, the track ends with Natalizia's wordless vocal harmonies on top. No freakout (or banjo). Oh, inverted world.